Those are my good friends and fellow members of the "Coffee with the Grandpas" Sitka, Alaska, Chapter, Rod Nutting and Bob "The Love Doctor" Love, who are eating fresh crab.

March 2, 2021 - Tuesday

12 degrees/cloudy/calm winds

Pentoga Road

If you want to see a great video of my former hometown, make sure you watch Bizzare Foods, Delicious Destination in Sitka, Alaska.

Other than featuring the beautiful scenery and wildlife, (other than Rod and Bob) the film emphasizes the delicious culinary delights available from the local fisheries.

I give it two thumbs up!

If Rod says it's good, then it's GOOD!

Monday morning's walk was a cold one. With the thermometer hovering in the single numbers and a strong wind blowing, the frost that formed on my face didn't diminish the beauty of Pentoga Road.

The majority of the day was spent in the shop where room was found for the new disk sander.

Had I known how well it works, I'd have purchased one a long time ago. In fact, it works almost too well.

I noticed when smoothing the first piece that sawdust was flying everywhere. Hmmm.

I dug out an old refrigerator crisper drawer and ran the vacuum hose through a hole in the front before fastening a wet vac attachment facing the sander.

The sawdust flew from the machine into the drawer where it was quickly sucked in by the vacuum.

I've used the same homemade rig with the lathe for several years, a poor man's dust collection system.

With the rings of the segmented bowl sanded flat, I smeared glue on the four before clamping all together.

As I told Mississippi Brother Garry, this bowl has been a real learning experience, mostly on what NOT to do. The next one should be easier. As far as what it will look like, I'll let you know once I begin turning it on the lathe later today.

The rest of the day was spent carving and shaping the bluegill.

Geesh, looking at that picture above, I see I've graduated from looking like Dad to resembling Grandpa Pennington.

Working on the bluegill has become a painstaking process that's seen me mutter more than once. The biggest obstacles are my fingers. All seem to get in the way, causing me to use tweezers to remove each piece to be shaped.

One needs to be remade and shaped, but after, the fish will be ready for painting and mounting.

I'm telling you, that woman of mine is spoiling me in my old age. I was sitting on the couch late yesterday afternoon when Sargie Pants put on her coat and walked out the door to begin hauling in the day's supply of firewood.

I started to get up before she told me to sit back down, that she wanted to do it and mentioned something about fresh air and exercise. No wonder I'm getting fat and lazy in my old age. Thanks Baby!

We'll be leaving fairly soon for a 9 AM appointment in Iron Mountain to have the Hyundai's passenger side rearview mirror replaced. An errant rock thrown by a large truck blew a hole through the cowling. 

Once home, I'll go for my walk before returning to the shop to make the sawdust fly.

After all, a man's work is never done.

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...